Combat veteran Liu Zhenli is top contender to replace China's missing defence minister

BEIJING - General Liu Zhenli, the head of the military body responsible for China's combat operations and planning, has emerged as the top contender to replace the country's defence minister, who has not been seen in public for more than six weeks, according to five people familiar with the matter. The appointment of Gen Liu to replace Defence Minister Li Shangfu - likely to happen before Beijing holds an international security forum later in October - could boost military engagement with the United States amid regional tensions, three military analysts told Reuters. General Li was sanctioned by the US in…